Fergal Keane (TV & Radio award)

Fergal Keane is one of the best-known and most distinguished journalists working in British TV and radio today.

Born into a well-known Irish literary and theatrical family he was educated in Dublin and Cork. He began his career in journalism in 1979 as a reporter on the Limerick Leader and Chronicle before moving to The Irish Press.

His first taste of broadcasting was with RTE´ news where he was a reporter and presenter. Since then Fergal has gone on to broadcast from some of the world's major trouble spots from the North of Ireland to Rwanda and is known for his hard-hitting and often moving reports.

He has been awarded a BAFTA, named Reporter of the Year on television and radio and won honours from a range of organisations, including the Royal Television Society and Amnesty International.

His programme entitled Become as Little Children for Something Understood was the recipient of a Sony Speech Award, praised as a richly textured, evocative and original listen.

A columnist for The Independent Fergal also writes for a range of publications and is the author of several books including Season of Blood and A Stranger's Eye which accompanied his television series.

His work never shies away from the truth and he has won the respect and admiration of everyone who has worked with him.